I said it once before (albeit, not here) and I’ll say it again. Great Value’s Chocolate Raspberry coffee creamer is deliciously good (albeit, a mug full of synthesized unhealth). I was impressed and enjoyed not one, but two yummy (albeit, nearly plasticine) mugs of mid-morning coffee at work yesterday.

I wonder how many times I can fit the word “albeit” into this entry…

HAPPY FRIDAY. I love Friday’s. (albeit, not as much as Thursday’s) They’re full of good feelings and comfortable clothes and movies (albeit, previously viewed ones, cause we’re too lazy to go get a new one on Friday’s). I vow not to change out of my sweatpants all day.

I can’t explain my adoration of Thursday’s. I just love them. They are the perfect day. Wednesday is a busy, hectic, work-filled day, and Friday is the beginning of a marvelous weekend. Thursday is like a beautiful transition into relaxation and comfort. Like a caterpillar in a cocoon. You know something beautiful is about to pop out, and you go about your day keeping one eye on that cocoon, waiting for the awesome, exploding action. I freaking love Thursday’s. (albeit, not as much as I love tacos)

Bedhead and coffee. two of my favorite things. (This steaming mug consists of International Delight’s, Southern Butter Pecan creamer. Another good one… Albeit, not as good as Chocolate Raspberry…)

Why in the world am I blogging the weekend before finals? Who does that? I’m such a procrastinator… but, fun fact, I don’t enjoy that… AND YET HERE WE ARE.

I’m all in the crazy psycho mood to write a poem… I’m not really sure why! But I do. I discovered at an early age that I can write a decent poem, but I literally get so irritated taking the time to rhyme everything. And then I discovered the Haiku. Insert LIFE-CHANGING. Not really but I do love a good Haiku. My favorite being The Old Pond, written by the idealized “creator of the Haiku” himself, Matsuo Basho, to which there are many translations, my personal favorite being;

The old pond/ a frog jumps in/ sound of water

The actual Haiku being;

Furuike ya/ kawazu tobikomu/ mizu no oto

But don’t ask me to pronounce any of that.

And after all of that, I couldn’t leave you without a haiku of my own, written on the fly. Naturally, since he’s curled up next to me, it’s about my cat.

The little things have made this week for me. Would you like to hear them? Not that it matters, because you know I’ll tell you anyways.

Pea soup for lunch

Sunshine

My A&P professor announcing my top grade to the class

An after-hours cup of coffee with nobody but myself

Really comfortable sneakers

Classmates asking for my notes. I’ve never had classmates ask for my notes. Actually… I’ve never had classmates

Pillowcases that smell like sleep

That one song that makes me smile like a schoolgirl every time it pops on my shuffle

Driving with my windows down

I seem to find a new drink combo at Sonic every year. Usually around the same time, when summer is starting to rear its beautiful little humid head. I know, the first day of spring was only a few days ago, but I’ve been reunited with my friend, the Sun, and that always puts me in a “Summer-Mindset” type of mood. Back to Sonic drinks… They keep handing me those annoying little stickers with my receipts, announcing a drink combo I’ll seemingly be missing out in life if I don’t try. A few weeks ago I got the one with some cheeky line about Cranberry Coke something or other. I don’t like coke, but the thought of cranberry in a drink totally intrigued me, and the next time I got a craving, I ordered a Cranberry Vanilla Slush. DISCOVERY. It is amazing. Like the perfect intermingling of sticky sweetness in the Vanilla, with a punchy fruit twist in the Cranberry. And since it’s not a soda, I feel healthier drinking it. Though I’m sure the double dosing of syrups makes up for the sugar I’m denying in a soda. Go me and my wishful healthy mindset.

Funny story. A few minutes ago I went in the garage to check on Kreacher [he’s been sick] and the garage door is cracked enough for the cats to slip outside if they want to. So Zeus, Josiah’s adorable dog, hears me and sticks his nose under the garage door, and after seeing me starts whining like he’s loved-starved. I’m laughing at him trying to fit under the door and scratching the tip of his nose, when out of the dark, vapid abyss of the inner sanctum of my garage, my cat launches himself past me and into the air, lands on poor Zeus’ nose and starts mutilating that sucker, howling like a banshee the entire time. I’m standing there with a dumb look on my face, too startled to save Zeus, who gets the freak out of there ASAP. And for the next few minutes I’m in the garage, my cat positions himself between me and the garage door at all times, and growls anytime Zeus tries to come towards the door. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have raised a guard cat.

Valentine’s Day, right? It’s coming up on the calendar. And I have a serious issue that needs to be dealt with. Right here. Right now.

Girls love Valentine’s Day. Everyone knows this. Girls love to have a Valentine. Everyone also knows this. Girls with a Valentine, like to get Valentine gifts from their Valentine. Fact. [Guys? If you haven’t caught on yet… you are in trouble]

Now I’ll address my issue. Any store prepped for Valentine’s day is decked in red foil covered chocolate and roses out the you know what, and a big thing this year are those cutsie little baskets filled with everything from candy [from the young Valentine] to expensive chocolate and wine [from the serious Valentine] to cheesy stuffed bears that sing “L-O-V-E” [from the last-minute-gift Valentine].

But ladies, I have an issue with these cutsie baskets and pre-made gifts. And you should too.

They send out a terrible message.

They tell the men that we don’t care that they spent ZERO time on our Valentines gift! They tell them that it’s ok to grab up a pre-made basket and pretend they spent time and effort on our precious Valentine’s Day! They tell the men that it doesn’t matter that 10,000 other women will be getting the exact same dancing bear, because, ‘honey, the fact that you picked this out especially for me is what makes it so great!’ *insert coy smile*

No! This is so wrong! Ladies! Do you realize, that when he brings you that pre-made plastic basket of expensive heart-shaped chocolates, the underlying message is, “Babe, you mean as much to me as $15 dollars of corn syrup and red food coloring.”

Don’t you see how commercialism is destroying our day?!

And now… your turn.

Gentlemen! *ahem* Would you all please stop acting like little girls, man up, and show the girl you care by doing something other than spending $15 on a monkey that sings “Wild Thing”? I mean come on! Quit slacking off because it’s easier. I know you all hate Valentine’s Day. [Honestly, is there a holiday that saps more masculinity than Valentine’s? I think not…] But seriously, just hold your breath and do something sweet for her. Quit relying on Wal-Mart to get a gift that shows what she means to you. Cook dinner for her. Write her a song. Take her to the place you met! Go dancing. Do something you hate, but know she loves. Buy sundae stuff and watch her favorite movie. [Even if it’s a chick flick. Suck it up] Pick her a bouquet. [Taking the time to pick them shows more love than any perfumed rose] Make a list of everything you love about her. Get her tickets for two to see her favorite play, or show, or band. Make her a playlist of every song that reminds you of her. The choices are, literally, endless.

We know it’s nearly impossible to do something for Valentine ’s Day that’s macho…

But can’t you see? That’s why we love it so much when you do something sweet for us. There is nothing sweeter than a man taking the time to let his girl know that she matters more than his pride.

So this year, for the sake of every girl in the world, please put a little bit of thought, time, and effort into your Valentine’s gift.

Meet The Blooger

I eat my marshmallows burned and my pizza cold -I can’t jump rope and I’ve made a personal vow to never smoke -I adore the smell of coffee grounds and I’ll never stop loving tea -I’m sort of obsessed with dying this one streak of my hair bright colors, only to prove that not all of us eccentrics are depressed -I always kill fish and plants, but never on purpose -I enjoy people watching -In my personal opinion, if you feel uncomfortable dressing up in a cape, then you’re too grown up -I can’t really write but I’ll never stop attempting